FAMILY and friends of a man who died in an explosion that rocked a town have left emotional tributes at the scene of the tragedy.

Andrew Herd, 33, was driving his red Ford Transit box-van through Wolsingham Market Place at about 7am on Saturday on his way to work.

Mr Herd, a welder for Durham company Ward Brothers Plant Hire, was carrying gas cylinders in the back. One of them ignited, and the explosion tore through the van, scattering pieces of the vehicle up to a quarter of a mile away.

Mr Herd, of Mill Race, Wolsingham, died instantly. His wife, Jennifer, is expecting their first child.

Yesterday, as villagers were coming to terms with the scale of the incident, floral tributes and messages were being placed at the scene.

Mrs Herd wrote: "You are the best friend and husband I could have ever wished for. I love you with all my heart and will miss you so much."

On flowers left by Mr Herd's father and mother-in-law, the couple wrote: "You made our family complete, the baby was the icing on the cake. We have no words to say that can express how much we will miss you."

Residents in the close-knit community have expressed their sympathy for Mr Herd's family.

One of his friends said: "He was the kind of man that any mother would have been proud to call her son -a hard-working family man who would have been a great dad.

"I have known him since school. I am just stunned. It is a terrible shame."

Another man described Mr Herd simply as "a nice, decent person" whose death was a terrible tragedy.

Dozens of windows that were shattered in the explosion remain boarded-up and the road was closed until Sunday night.

Most of the evacuated residents were back in their homes last night, but police said there were still structural issues with a few properties.

An investigation into the explosion is ongoing.

To leave your tribute to Mr Herd online, go to www.thenorthern echo.co.uk